Israel Objects to U.S. Executive Board Overseeing Gaza
Israel criticized the White House’s announced Gaza executive board overseeing reconstruction, saying it lacked coordination and Israeli officials, heightening tensions as technocrats begin phase-two implementation.
Overview
White House announced an executive board and a Palestinian technocratic committee to govern Gaza during reconstruction; the Palestinian committee met in Cairo and began organizing immediate relief and administration.
Israel objected, saying the Gaza executive committee "was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy," and Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered his foreign ministry to contact Secretary Rubio.
Committee makeup drew criticism: no Israeli official included, though Israeli billionaire Yakir Gabay was named; Palestinian Islamic Jihad also complained the committee reflected Israeli "specifications."
Far-right Israeli ministers urged readiness for renewed fighting; Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir warned against countries they blamed for sustaining Hamas replacing it.
Phase two tasks include deploying an international stabilization force, demilitarizing Hamas, returning remains of the last hostage, and a multi-year Gaza reconstruction amid high humanitarian and security challenges.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as an elite, U.S.-driven reconstruction plan that sidelines Palestinians and women, emphasizing controversy and geopolitical pushback. They highlight Trump confidants, business ties and Israel’s objections, combining personnel background and omission of Palestinian voices to create skepticism about legitimacy and representativeness.
Sources (13)
FAQ
Key members include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, Tony Blair, Marc Rowan, Yakir Gabay, Sigrid Kaag, Nickolay Mladenov, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Qatari diplomat Ali Thawadi, Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, and UAE Minister Reem Al-Hashimy.[1][2]
Israel objected because the committee was not coordinated with them and is contrary to their policy, with no Israeli officials included except businessman Yakir Gabay; Netanyahu ordered contact with Secretary Rubio.
The board oversees Gaza's postwar management, including governance capacity-building, reconstruction, stabilization, demilitarization, and resource mobilization under Trump's Board of Peace.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad criticized the committee's makeup as reflecting Israeli specifications; far-right Israeli ministers like Smotrich and Ben-Gvir warned against countries that sustained Hamas replacing it.
Phase two includes deploying an international stabilization force, demilitarizing Hamas, returning hostage remains, and multi-year reconstruction amid humanitarian and security challenges.[story]
History
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